PHILADELPHIA — Orlando Magic point guards D.J. Augustin and Elfrid Payton are mourning the death of former University of Southern California and NFL running back Joe McKnight, a fellow New Orleans-area native who was shot and killed Thursday in Terrytown, La.
Born just five months apart, Augustin and McKnight played Biddy Basketball youth games against each other from the ages 4 to 12 years old.
Augustin learned the news of McKnight's death just before the Magic played the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night.
"I was kind of shook up," Augustin said. "We didn't talk on the phone or anything, but I still knew him.